[Behind the Scenes] Hyun Bin’s Broad Shoulders Are Put To Good Use | Crash Landing on You
< 1 min to read · Published : Feb 4, 2020 · Updated : Feb 12, 2020
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Find out the tvN dramas with the highest ratings up until now.
Laure, Kpopmap EditortvN is a cable channel of Korea and its dramas are popular in and out of Korea. The channel has quite a lot of hit dramas on its record. The channel keeps on having high ratings with interesting plots and Hallyu actors in its cast.
Here is a list of the tvN dramas with the highest ratings up until now (all years) (updated article).
The drama "Crash Landing On You" (2019-2020) with Hyun Bin and Son YeJin makes tvN history by breaking the record of its highest ratings. With the final episode of the drama, the drama ratings reached 21.7%. The love story of the North Korean soldier and South Korean chaebol hooked the country.
The drama "Goblin" also titled "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" aired in 2016-2017 starring Gong Yoo, Kim GoEun, Lee DongWook and more. In and out of Korea, the drama was extremely popular. There was definitely a "Goblin craze". The final episode of the drama reached its highest personal ratings at 20.5%. "Goblin" held the record of tvN best ratings until "Crash Landing on You" broke it.
The "Replies" series were popular and "Reply 1988" (2015-2016) was the most popular. The last episode reached 18.8%. Girl's Day's HyeRi, Park BoGum, Go KyungPyo, Ryu JunYeol and Lee DongHwi acted in the drama.
The historical drama "Mr. Sunshine" (2018) with Lee ByungHun and Kim TaeRi had a huge budget and it received a lot of love in and outside of Korea. The drama scored 18.1% of ratings on its last episode.
The comedy historical drama "Mr. Queen" (2020-2021) starring Shin HyeSun and Kim JungHyun was also popular. The drama started at 8.0% and kept on increasing its ratings up to 17.4% for the final episode.
The romance drama "Crash Course in Romance" (2023) starred Jeon DoYeon and Jung KyungHo. The drama started with 4.0% but gained a lot of popularity week after week with its love story, elite education, and scandals. The drama reached 17% with its last episode.
The historical drama "Under The Queen's Umbrella" (2022) starred Kim HyeSoo, Kim HaeSook, Choi WonYoung, Moon SangMin, SF9's Chani, Yoo SeonHo, Kim MinGi, and more. It was a hit drama. Starting at 7.6%, the drama kept on gaining viewers and reached 16.852% with its last episode. The story of the queen, her sons, and all the political schemes passionated.
The black comedy drama "Vincenzo" (2021) starring Song JoongKi, Jeon YeoBeen, 2PM's Ok TaecYeon, Kim YeoJin, and Kwak DongYeon was popular. The drama was also available on Netflix at the same time. The drama started at 7.7% and ended at 14.6%. Viewers have been stunned by the amazing acting and the catchy storyline of a mafia consigliere getting rid of the bad guys.
The life drama "Our Blues" (2022) starring Lee ByungHun, Shin MinA, Han JiMin, Kim WooBin, Cha SeoungWon, and Lee JungEun gathered a lot of interest with its touching story and its talented cast. The drama started at 7.3% and ended at 14.6%.
The comedy historical drama "100 Days My Prince" (2018) starring EXO’s D.O. and Nam JiHyun was also one of the most popular dramas of tvN. The last episode of the drama reached 14.4%.
The drama "Hospital Playlist" (2020) with Jo JungSuk, Yoo YeonSeok, Jung KyungHo, and Kim DaeMyung was popular. The drama kept increasing in ratings and reached 14.1% with its last episode. The story of these close friends working at the hospital had interested many.
The awaited K-Drama "Queen of Tears" (2024) with top Hallyu stars Kim SooHyun and Kim JiWon started with 5.9% and it reached impressive ratings of 13% within one week with episode 4th. Episode 6 reached 14.1%. Viewers are hooked and the drama went viral for its story and amazing acting.
The drama "Signal" (2016) with Lee JeHoon, Kim HyeSoo, and Choi JinWoong was also a hit. The drama reached 12.5% of ratings with its last episode. This drama is often mentioned as one of the best K-Dramas in the international K-Drama community.
IU and Yeo JinGoo addicted viewers to the ghosty fantasy drama “Hotel del Luna”. The drama was so popular that many are hoping for a second season. The drama reached 12.0% on its last episode.
The 2024 drama "Marry My Husband" based on a web novel and webtoon was a hit. With Park MinYoung, Na InWoo, Lee YiKyung, Song HaYoon, and Highlight's Lee GiKwang, the revenge drama caught attention from the start with 5.2%. It continuously grabbed viewers' attention until reaching 12.0% with its last episode.
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K-Dramas have gone through various changes throughout the years. Read more on the most recent K-Drama model that has been gaining traction among recent series.
Dyllan Mykel, Kpopmap EditorIn a world where many Western television series welcome multiple seasons, K-Dramas are often wrapped up in at least 16 episodes, sometimes even more. And while daily dramas often sit at the cusp of 40+ episodes, they never crest over one singular season.
The Korean film industry followed this model for a long time, however, in recent years, the landscape of K-Dramas has greatly evolved with the roaring tide of the Hallyu wave. Following the globalization of Korean entertainment, production companies and film crews are starting to take a new approach, splitting one K-Drama into two different parts.
Now, before we explore the success of this new approach, let’s take a look at the evolution of the typical K-Drama.
There is no doubt that the main allure of K-Dramas is the fact that many end within one season. Working with this model for so long, film crews, writers, and directors understand what it takes to create a compelling K-Drama that audiences will love.
Within the first few episodes, they introduce the main characters, the core focus of the plot, and the looming obstacle that stands in the main characters’ way. Then over the course of the series, there’s internal struggles, a multitude of disagreements, and at times, heart-fluttering romance in between. But regardless of how many things happen over the course of a drama, viewers know that by the final episode, most, if not all, questions will be answered and any loose ends will be promptly tied up.
This tried and true formula has led dramas like “My Love From The Star”, “Secret Garden”, and “Coffee Prince” become shining examples of what a classic K-Drama should be. Many viewers will fondly remember committing 16+ hours of their time to these dramas without a second thought.
Although a majority of K-Dramas continued forward with its usual format, there has been a recent rise in multiple season shows. Some of these include “Uncanny Counter”, “The Penthouse: War In Life”, and “Taxi Driver”.
Despite not having a definitive end, these shows reached mass success from the public both locally and abroad, and as a result, fans were more than happy to hear of their renewal. These dramas kept viewers at the edge of their seats and by the time the final credits rolled, they were understandably asking for more.
Now, not all successful dramas end up having a second season, as highlighted by the many years of K-Drama history. But the ones that do usually receive thunderous applause from viewers that makes it difficult to not have a second, or even third, season.
Despite their obvious success, not everyone is on board for these changes. On forum sites like Reddit, many argue that multiple seasons take away the initial appeal K-Dramas had in the first place and the risk of leaving behind too many unanswered questions due to cancellations or other issues. While this might be true for some, many multiple season dramas are still able to properly close the door on the series, allowing fans to move onto the next big thing.
Seasons aside, there seems to be a new K-Drama model coming to light: one story, split into two parts.
This can be seen through the highly successful Netflix-produced “The Glory” and TVING’s “Death Game”. These shows contain the typical flow of the classic K-Drama model, however, the main difference is that they are split into two separate parts. In the case of “The Glory”, the first 8 episodes were released on December 30, 2022, while the final 8 were released on March 10.
Now, with a number of shows split up into two separate parts, there’s more shocking cliffhangers, more mysteries waiting to unfold, and more time to ruminate and fully digest the events of a drama. And while the wait between the first and second part isn’t nearly as long as a K-Drama with multiple seasons, a bit of patience is required to fully appreciate the entirety of a drama.
Of course, dedicated fans in addition to a great storyline will keep viewers excitedly waiting for part 2, and ultimately the conclusion of the drama, however, for more casual viewers, this might cause them to lose interest and move onto something else.
This newer model of K-Dramas will not please everyone, but it seems like it’s growing in popularity as more shows adopt its structure. Now comes the question: will it work? Outside of "The Glory", looking at the success of shows like "Island", "Duty After School", and etc., K-Dramas split into two separate parts continue to retain a majority of their viewers. However, there is the danger of waiting too long or going up against a surging series with high viewership. If these conditions are met, this might mark a significant fall in viewership compared to the first part of the series.
But as seen from these previous works, the right story, cast, and amount of hype make it possible to create a drama that many people will love and continue to support worldwide. In the end, this newer model of dramas is establishing a firm foothold in the scene, and there's no doubt we will see more of it.
Which K-Drama model do you prefer the most?
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Here is a list of Korean Dramas filmed in Western Europe countries.
Dyllan Mykel, Kpopmap EditorIf you're a K-Drama fan, you will have noticed the pretty scenery of your favorite show. While a majority of series are filmed in Korea, there are some that take viewers international, venturing out to foreign filming locations. While the United States is a popular destination, not all filming sites are based in America.
Production teams also look towards Europe for potential filming sites. As a whole, Europe is extremely large with a wide array of people. Many dramas filmed there embraced the various cultures and landscapes that Europe had to offer. Central-eastern Europe is popular, with "Descendants of the Sun" being filmed in Greece and "Are You Human Too?" filmed in Czech Republic. However, production teams and staff have also filmed all across Western Europe, showing love and interest to the entire continent. You have probably watched a drama filmed in Western Europe, and you might not even know it!
So here is a list of K-Dramas filmed in Western European countries.
Note: the terms western, central and eastern Europe have different delimitations depending on concepts.
"Shopping King Louie" was a hilarious drama starring Seo InGuk, Nam JiHyun, Yoon SangHyun, and Lim SeMi. The MBC series followed the romance story between Kang JiSung/Louie (Seo InGuk) and Ko BokSil (Nam JiHyun). Louie learns about the meaning of true love after meeting BokSil.
The iconic drama was filmed in the romantic country of France. While many might immediately think of the capital city Paris, the filming for the drama takes place outside.
Instead, the production crew decides on a a chateau outside of Paris named Château de Bourron. The location is a charming castle hotel, surrounded by moats in white water, and classified as a historic monument! The filming site might not be within Paris, but the vibes are immaculate and give off an air of elegance and grace.
This JTBC drama stars the likes of Lee YeonHee, CNBLUE's Jung YongHwa, Choi WooShik, Park YooNa, and Yoon Park. It tells the story of a travel tour guide in France, leading a group of tourists on a package tour. All the travelers have their own stories and do not wish to get close to one another. However, they begin to open up and let down their walls as they travel more together.
"The Package" was filmed in France for a majority of the drama. The production team went to various locations and showed viewers the charm of Paris and the Northern part of the country. The went to locations like Auvers-Sur-Oise (in relation with the painter Van Gogh), Mont Saint-Michel, Honfleur, Deauville, Saint-Malo, etc. The country of France is well-highlighted in this romantic comedy.
"The K2" was a memorable K-Drama featuring Ji ChangWook, Girls' Generation's YoonA, Song YoonAh, and Cho SeongHa as its main leads. The drama follows Kim JeHa (Ji ChangWook), a former solder for hire who is referred to as K2. The tvN series is filled with an endless amount of action, that you might need to get checked for high blood pressure.
But for some parts of the heart-racing drama is the beautiful backdrop of Spain. The drama was partly filmed in the Western European country, with a few scenes being shot in the streets of Barcelona. There were moments of reprieve in between all the action scenes to take in the beauty Spain had to offer.
"The Legend of the Blue Sea" starred the legendary Jun JiHyun and Lee MinHo. The SBS drama depicts the story of a mermaid's long-lasting love story. The drama draws inspiration and borrows motifs from an old folktale about a mermaid. The series is touching as the two main leads confront the past and work to make a future together.
"The Legend of the Blue Sea" was filmed partly in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, Girona and A Coruña. The backdrops of these scenes were absolutely gorgeous, taking viewers on a literal trip abroad and into the world of the SBS drama. After the series concluded, the locations featured became hot spots for fans of the cast, and most especially the show.
"Saimdang, Memoirs of Colors" is a historical romance that transcends time and space. The SBS series stars Lee YoungAe and Song SeungHeon as its main leads. The story depicts a Korean art history lecturer's discovery of a diary belonging to historical figure Shin Saimdang (Lee YoungAe). In reading the diary, she discovers the secrets behind a mysterious portrait.
For some parts of "Saimdang, Memoirs of Colors", the scenes were filmed in Italy, specifically Bologna and Tuscany. Through those parts, we follow lead actress Lee YoungAe, as she travels through the Italian streets. The backdrop of these scenes are breathtaking and make you want to hop on the next flight to Italy.
"Memories of the Alhambra" had its original run on both Netflix and tvN. The iconic drama starred Park ShinHye and Hyun Bin as its main leads. It depicted the story of investment company CEO, Yoo JinWoo (HyunBin). He visits Granada, Spain for business and ends up staying at the hostel run by Jung HeeJoo (Park ShinHye). They become tangled up in a strange, yet thrilling affair.
Overseas filming for the drama took place in several cities including Granada, Barcelona, Girona, and Terrassa. Not only did the characters pose in front of scenic views, but the production crew brought viewers to small, street-side cafes and cozy hidden streets. "Memories of the Alhambra" make Spain look magnificent and a prime travel destination!
Where was your favorite drama's filming location? Let us know in the comments!
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